2024-04-01 02:07:33
Kyiv: Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has reached New Delhi for a two-day visit. During this time he will try to promote bilateral relations and cooperation with India. This is the first time in seven years that the Foreign Minister of Ukraine is visiting India and a first for Kuleba. Kuleba has said that he will seek Indian participation in the reconstruction of his war-torn country. Notably, before his visit to New Delhi, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister had said at a briefing that Kiev “views India as an important global power with a powerful international voice.” This is in sharp contrast to his earlier statement when he had attacked India by accusing it of “morally unjustified” import of Russian oil.
Question on timing of Kuleba’s visit to India
A question is being raised regarding Kuleba’s visit whether this is a better time to improve relations with India, because only last week there was a terrorist attack in the Russian capital Moscow and Russia linked this attack to Ukraine. A senior former diplomat told StrataNews Global that there could be a demand to postpone Kuleba’s visit, but it would create controversy because it would mean that we are accepting that Ukraine was involved in the terrorist attack in Moscow. Was. It would have been better to keep the date of the visit later, but the reason should be compelling. Another diplomat said canceling or rescheduling the visit would create complications.
India in diplomatic talks with Ukraine for the second time
There is also a danger of Russia getting angry with Kuleba’s visit to India. However, this is not the first diplomatic interaction between India and Ukraine. In April last year, Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Emin Dzaparova visited India. Although she was officially a guest of the Indian Council for World Affairs, she met the then Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi and Deputy NSA Vikram Misri. Earlier, at the SCO summit to be held in Uzbekistan in September 2022, Prime Minister Modi had told President Putin, “Today is not the era of war…” This statement of PM Modi was praised globally.
PM Modi spoke to Zelensky and Putin
Last week, when PM Modi spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on seven phone calls, on the same day he personally called Russian President Vladimir Putin to congratulate him on his record sixth term. One thing he said was common to both the leaders. PM Modi called on the two leaders to seek dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward. To Putin he reiterated “India’s continued position in favor of dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward.” He also told Zelensky, “India supports all efforts for an early and peaceful resolution of all issues between the parties… India will continue to do everything within its means to support a peaceful resolution.”
Is India becoming a mediator in Russia-Ukraine?
In such a situation, the question arises whether India is mediating between Russia and Ukraine. The sequence of events and official messages may indicate this, although the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has never used the term. A mediator must be trusted by both parties. Neither the US nor Europe are reliable in relations with Putin. China is trying hard but it is not clear what the result is going to be. On the other hand, Russia has confidence in India. Ukraine is not so convinced but is trying hard to get its point across to New Delhi.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister praising India
Before reaching Delhi on Thursday, Kuleba also said something, which was taken as an indication of India becoming a mediator. “Ukraine views India as an important global power with a powerful international voice,” Kuleba said. On the occasion of Holi (March 25), Ukraine’s Dmytro Kuleba greeted the country on the festival and announced that he will visit India over the weekend at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. During his visit to India, he will hold meetings with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar as well as the Deputy National Security Advisor on Friday.